Folding machine



. 8, 1936. H. w. GABBERT FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Shea*l l INVENTOR .6i/aff M G4660??- ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1936. H w. GABBERT 2,063,156

FOLDING MACHINE Filed MaIh 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l w I INVENTOR braak( M haai/Yr ATTORN EY j". Y lo BY "a rg Dec. 8, 1936.

Filed March 24, 1955 H. W. GABBERT 2,063,156

FOLDING MACHINE l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 QIHIUIIH l ,l/Alial xNvENToR ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING MACHINE Application March 24,

19 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for folding flat laundered articles such as towels, pillow cases, or the like.

The objects of my invention are to provide a folding apparatus wherein complicated folding mechanisms which require constant adjustment or repair are eliminated; to provide a folding apparatus that eliminates the necessity of a timing device for the first and most complicated fold; to provide a folding apparatus through which articles are conveyed with a continuous movement and wherein means are provided for accomplishing folding of the articles to a definite uniform width and in a line parallel to the direction of article travel; to provide an apparatus wherein the primary or first folds of the article are accomplished by movement of the article it- .self in relation to stationary devices; to provide a folding apparatus including an article convey- 20 ing means such as a belt or the like and means for exerting sufficient pressure on the article for maintaining contact thereof with the conveying means to move the article constantly forward in the machine while being folded; to provide a folding apparatus embodying means for separating the laps of the primary folds during article folding whereby to prevent direct contact of the laps while the article is moving progressively forward during the folding process; to provide a constant means for definitely producing a fold `of uniform width; to provide a remote control means readily accessible to the feed operator for controlling the operation of a cross folding means whereby to accomplish a uniform cross fold of articles of varying length; and to provide for a combined folding and stacking of flat laundered articles in an apparatus embodying the least number of moving parts and occupying the smallest possible floor space.

Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention will be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a folding apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the right side of the folding apparatus; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, certain of the parts being in true elevation; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the drive means for a supplemental conveyor provided; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the opposite side of the appara- 1933, serial No. 662.543

tus; Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view of the right side of the apparatus showing'the cross folding and stacking elements in both operative and inoperative position; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the mechanism in a position it assumes 5 after a folded article has been moved into the magazine portion of the stacking apparatus; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing an article being primarily folded; Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill--III of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a 10 sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. '7 and showing the stacking apparatus; and Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the solenoid operated part that controls the cross folding operation and the circuit therefor.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a Work folding apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and including a supporting frame made up of side members I, a horizontally disposed cross member 2 and uprights 3. The 20 apparatus also includes a horizontal work conveying belt 4 of substantially the same width as the article will be after primary or first folding has been accomplished and this belt travels over a driven roller 5, idler roller 6, idler roller 1, 25 idler roller 8, and idler roller 9, its top strand moving from left to right above the cross member 3 as shown in Fig. 2 and being driven by a motor or power unit Ill through a gear reduction unit Ill', a belt II, driven roller or pulley I2, sprocket 30 I3, sprocket chain I4, and sprocket I5 carried by the shaft which supports the roller 5 (see Fig. 6).

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the driven roller 5 includes a central section I6 about which the belt 35 4 travels and side sections I'I and I 'I' covered with belting material or the like of substantially the same thickness as the belt 4, whereby a feed roller including the conveying belt as apart thereof is provided across the entire feed end of 40 the machine which is the left hand end as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In accordance with my invention, a means is provided, starting at the feed end of the apparatus, for folding a laundered article in a line parallel to the direction of article travel and by movement of the article itself. This means consists of stationary fold plates I8 and I9 arranged to sequentially fold first one side of the article and then the other towards and over the centrall portion of the article to produce the desired result which would be, in this instance, a one-third fold. The fold plates I8 and I9 are supported by the side members I of the frame as shown in Fig. 10

and the fold plate I8 has its one end of substan- 55;

tially the same width as a one-third (1,/3) portion of the article to be folded and starts curving inwardly from the side of the apparatus and fromv a point adjacent the feed end of the frame towards the center of the frame and, at the same time, upwardly and over as at 20 until the edge end 2I remote from the feed end of the apparatus is superposed above the conveying belt 4 substantially toward the center thereof. With this construction, as a piece of goods is fed through the apparatus, approximately one-third (1/3) of the goods from one side edge inwardly towards the center is lapped over the central portion of the article as the piece of goods is progressively moved from the feed end toward the delivery end of the apparatus by the belt 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the fold plate I9 likewise extends from the feed end of the apparatus, being at this end of substantially the same width as one-third (1A) of the article to be folded from the side edge toward the center thereof. In contra-distinction to the fold plate I8, the fold plate I9 has a fiat horizontally disposed portion 22 extending along the horizontal length of the apparatus to substantially the point in the frame length at which the edge end of the fold plate I8 is superposed above the belt 4.

From this point onwardly for a given length toward the delivery end of the apparatus, the fold plate I 9 bends inwardly from the frame edge towards the center of the frame and upwardly and over as at 23 after the manner of the fold plate I 8 until the edge end 24 is superposed above the conveying belt- 4 substantially toward the center thereof. With this construction and ar rangement of the two fold plates I8 and I9 with their effective folding portions following in sequence one after the other and disposed to fold in opposite directions, the side portion of the laundered article 25 on the right-hand end as viewed 4from the left side of the feed end of the apparatus in Fig. 2 is first folded over the central portion of the article by the progressive movement of the article along the horizontal length of the apparatus, and then the side portion of the article on the left hand side as viewed from the left hand feed end of the apparatus in Fig. 2 is folded over towards the right to be superposed above the rst fold and over the central portion of the article.

Means have been provided for maintaining the article to be folded in such contact with the belt 4 as to prevent slipping of the article relative to the belt and rolling or wadding up of the article, this means consisting of what may be termed riding plates 26 and 21. These riding plates also 'serve the further purpose, as will be hereinafter apparent, of maintaining the primary folds out of contact with each other during formation of the primary folds by movement of the article progressively through the apparatus. One purpose is to provide a smooth surface upon which the laps will readily slide and thus eliminate the 'resistance to sliding which would occur if the laps were in direct contact with each other and which would promote a tendency of the laps to roll up rather than remain in flat condition.

As shown in Fig. 2, the riding plate 26 includes a flexible member supported at the feed end of the apparatus by a bracket 28 and in slightly.

spaced relation above the belt 4 which provides for insertion of an article between the belt 4 and the riding plate. 'I'he plate, being flexible, arches downwardly a little beyond the support 28 towards the delivery end of the apparatus and aoeaise into riding contact with the belt 4, the ,surfaces of y the plate being smooth and vits riding weight being suilicient to hold an article in contact with the belt 4 and produce a steady movement of the article forward without slipping or relative movement between the article and the belt, and of insumcient riding weight to cause a wedding up of the article.

The riding plate 21 is supported on a bracket 29 at one end thereof slightly rearwardly of the free end of the riding plate 26 which rests on a. belt 4 and so positioned as to receive the fold produced between fold plate I9 on its upper surface. Like the riding plate 26, the end of the riding plate 21 supported by the bracket 29 is spaced slightly above the riding plate 28 to permit the fold produced by the fold plate I8 and the central portion of the article to pass thereunder. 'I'his fold having been completed, it is no longer necessary to maintain it separated from the lap of the article beneath the fold plate 28 and resting on the belt 4. Further, like the riding plate 28, the riding plate 21 is flexible and arches downwardly from a point beyond the support 29 and into contact with the belt 4 from a point slightly beyond the free end of the riding Aplate 26 onwardly to substantially the end of the upper lap of the belt 4.

In the function of these riding plates'during the folding of an article, the article on the belt 4 passes beneath the riding plate 26 and during travel of the article towards the delivery end of the apparatus the one-third (1/3) lap eifected by the fold plate as shown in Fig. 1, is folded over on top of and moves along the smooth surface of the riding plate 28 by this fold plate. Then, on continued movement of the article through the apparatus the lap on top of the fold plate 28 passes beneath the fold plate 21 and the lap effected by the fold plate I 9 is folded over on top of and travels lalong the top of the fold plate 21 and is maintained in separated relation to the lap beneath until the primarily folded article reaches substantially the delivery point of the belt 4. Thus, a means has been provided for sequentially folding a progressively moving article by its own movement through an apparatus without the aid of external movable operating devices and, at the same time, maintaining the laps in separated condition until they have reached their completely folded state whereby to eliminate the usually inherent tendency of the article vto become rolled or wadded up during the folding operation. If it were attempted to fold over the right and left laps of the article. as hereinbefore described without the smooth surfaced riding plates, upon which the laps will readily slide, to separate the laps, the laps being turned over with movement transversely of the article would meet with such resistance when the free edge contacted with the body of the article as to cause the edge to roll up. With such apparatus, the primary folding of an article is positive.

Means have been provided for cross folding and.then stacking the primary folded articles. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 1 and 8, two spaced parallel article conveying belts 30, traveling around a driven roller 3l and an idler 32, are disposed so that primary folded articles will pass from the conveyor belt 4 onto the belts 38. Such belts 30 are spaced from the belt 4 to provide a gap 33 between the delivery end of the belt 4 and the receiving end s of the belts 38. Referring to Fig. 5, the belts 38 are driven in synchronlsm with the belt 4 by a sprocket chain 34 which connects the idler roller 6, driven by movement of the belt 4, with the idler roller 3|.

A driven roller 35 is disposed below the gap 33 and in horizontal alignment with the idler roller 1, being so arranged as to be driven in an opposite direction to the direction of movement of the roller 1 and to have itsbelting covered surface resiliently held in engagement with the belt 4 traveling around the idler roller 1. At the same time, the roller 35 is movable toward and away from the roller 1.

In Fig. 6, the drive for the roller 35 is shown as consisting of a sprocket chain 36 that passes around a sprocket 31 on the idler shaft 8 which is rotated bymovement of the belt 4. This sprocket chain 36 also passes around a sprocket 31' on the shaft 38 which carries the roller 35. The shaft 38 is mounted to rotate in slots 39 in the side members 2 and to be normally held in the forward or right hand end of the slots as viewed in Fig. 6 by means of spring members 40, whereby the roller 35 will be resiliently held in engagement with the belt 4 at the point where it passes around the idler roller 1. To permit movement of the roller 35 away from the roller 1, a sprocket chain 36 must be provided that has the necessary slack and this slack must be taken up when the roller 35 is in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6.4 Therefore, a` chain tightening means consisting of a pivoted arm 4I is arranged to have its free end bear against the chain 36 in the manner shown in Fig. 6, a spring 42 being provided to always maintain the arm 4I in such bearing position as to take up any slack in such sprocket chain 36.

To engage the primary folded articles at approximately their longitudinal centers and push them downwardly at that point through the gap 33 and between the roller 35 and the belt 4 Where it travels around the idler roller 1 whereby the article will be pulled down between the belt 4 and the roller 39 and thus cross folded, a crossA folding blade 43 is provided, such cross folding blade being mounted on a pivoted arm 44 and the blade being swingable from the up position shown in Figs. 2, 3, 7 and 8 to the down position shown in full lines in Fig. 7.

As shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8, the arm 44 carrying the folding blade 43 forms one arm of a bell crank pivoted at 45, the other arm 46 of the bell crank providing means for connecting the folding blade with mechanism for moving the blade from its up to its down position wherein it will engage the primary folded articles and cause them to be pushed downwardly in the slot 33 to be engaged between the rollers 35 and 1 and pulled downwardly thereby as shown by full lines in Fig. 7 for cross folding. The folding blade 43 is normally maintained in its up position by a spring 41 connected at one end to the arm 46 and at its other yend to the frame.

For moving the foldingblade 43 downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 7, a link 48 is connected to the free end of the arm 46, the arm 48 extending through the arm 46 and having a spring 49 interposed between the arm 46 and a head 50 on the link to provide a resilient .or

yielding connection between the link and the arm for reasons hereinafter apparent.

52 will produce reciprocation of the link 48 and, on its backward movement, move the folding blade 43 downwardly to engage and push a primary folded article into the slot 33.

To reciprocate the link 48 and thereby move the folding blade 43 downwardly to the full line position shown in Fig. 7 and cross fold the primary folded article, the driven pulley wheel I2 is operatively connected to the crank shaft 52 to thereby rotate the crank shaft 52 and crank arm 5|. The means for connecting the crank shaft 52 and the driven pulley wheel I2 consists of an arm 53 pinned on the crank shaft 52 and carrying a pawl 54 for engagement with a ratchet gear 55 rigidly carried by the driven pulley wheel I2. As shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8, when the pawl 54 is in engagement withA the ratchet gear 55, the

crank shaft 52 and crank arm 5I will be rotated which will first pull the link 48 backwardly orto the left and the folding blade 43 downwardly to the full line position shown in Fig. 7 to engage and cross fold the article, the resilient connection between the link 48 and arm 46 of the bell crank on which the folding blade is mounted being provided to permit a yield in the driving connection for preventing breakage of parts as is readily apparent.

The engagement of the pawl 54 with the ratchet gear 55 is controlled by movement of the primary folded article through the apparatus. Referring to Figs. l, 2, 3, 7 and 8, a switch mechanism 56, preferably of the mercury type, is arranged to be operated by contact of the leading edge o f a primary folded article traveling over the spaced belts 30 with an arm 51 which extends downwardly between the spaced belts 30. That is, the primary folded article normally moves across the slot 33 and onto the belt 30 and is conveyed thereby to have its forward or leading edge strike the arm 51 of the switch. The operation of this switch 56 controls the operation of the pawl 54 by energizing a solenoid 58 to move a pawl locking arm 59 which is pivoted at 60' and whose free end normally engages and maintains the pawl 54 in inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2, the free end of the arm 59 being moved back to locking position by means of a spring 6I. a

In the operation of this part of the apparatus, when the forward or leading edge of a primary folded article strikes the arm 51 of the switch 56,

the switch is operated to complete a circuit from LI to L2 (see Fig. 12) through lines 62 and 63 through the solenoid 58 which will energize the solenoid to pull one end of the arm 59 downwardly and move its free end upwardly. This upward movement of the free end of the arm 59 releases an arm 64 of the pawl 54 and permits one end of the pawl to be pulled downwardly by a spring 65 and into operative engagement with the ratchet gear 55 as shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8. Such connection of the pawl 54 with the ratchet gear 55 operatively connects the pulley I2 with the crank shaft 52 whereby the crank shaft is rotated by the motor I0 and the crank arm 5I operated to cause downward movement of the folding blade 43 as hereinbefore described. Pulling the forward or leading edge of the goods away from the switch 56 as shown in Fig. 7 allows the switch to assume its normal position and the solenoid 58 to be deenergized whereby the spring 6I moves the free end of the arm 59 downwardly to be in the path of the arm 64 of the pawl 54 as it completes its movement through a circular path by reason of rotation of the crank shaft 52, the free end of the arm 59 engages the arm 84 of Ythe pawl 54 as shown in Fig. 2 whereby to release the connection between the pawl and the ratchet gear 55 and disconnect the crank shaft 52 from the driven pulley I2. Then, the folding blade 43 will be moved to its up position by the spring `41.

Operator-operated means have been provided for adjusting the position of the switch 56 and switch arm 51 along the length of the belts 30 whereby goods varying in length, after the primary fold has been accomplished, may be cross /folded with the cross fold blade 43 engaging the goods either substantially or precisely at a point intermediate the ends of the article. 'I'hls means consists of a hand lever 66 plvoted as at 61 and having one free end connected by a link 58 with a switch carrying member 69 that is slidable longitudinally of the belts 30 on a frame 10.

A sector plate 1| having graduations 12 therein, is provided as a part of the mounting for the operator-operated lever 66 whereby the position of the switch 56 with respect to articles of a given length may be determined by an operator standing at the forward end of the apparatus and remote fromthe switch 56. Thus, means are provided whereby an operator stationed at the feed end of the apparatus may regulate the position of the switch 56 in accordance with the length of an article to be folded whereby the forward or leading edge of the article will actuate the cross fold mechanism hereinbefore described so that the cross fold blade 43 will engage the article substantially or precisely at a point intermediate its ends.

The stacking mechanism for stacking the cross folded articles consists of a frame 13 supported from the side rails by means of depending arms 14. Pairs of spaced uprights 15 and 16 on one side and 11 and 18 on the opposite side are provided for receiving the cross folded articles as they drop downwardly from between the rollers 35 and 1, the uprights being located with the space therebetween directly below the meeting edges of such rollers. Thus, a cross folded article drops downwardly into and is held between the spaced uprights.- To move such cross folded articles into a stack as at 19, which stack is held between the outer edges of the uprights 15 and 18 by means of a sliding head 80 that may be yieldingly pressed towards the uprights, a sliding head 8| is provided which is of a size to pass between the pairs of spaced uprights hereinbefore mentioned and push the article between the uprights 15 and 18 by bending the edges thereof.

This head 8| is reciprocated. horizontally in timed relation with movement of the cross folding blade 4 3 downwardly to cross fold the article. As shown, a link 82 connects the head 8| with a crank 83 on the crank shaft 52. Thus, when the pulley I2 is connected with the crank shaft 52 to rotate the crank shaft and move the cross folding blade 43 downwardly as hereinbefore described, the crank 82 will likewise be rotated to first pull the head 8| rearwardly as shown in Fig. 7 and then move it forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8, the head arriving at the space between the pairs of uprights 15, 16, 11 and 18 immediately after an article has dropped between the spaced pairs of uprights as shown in Fig. l1. Thus, each time an article is cross folded, the article will be immediately moved into a stack and the apparatus prepared for the cross folding of another article.

ment for cross folding said article, and an intermittently operated stacking mechanism arranged to operate in timed relation with said cross folding means for stacking said folded articles in a generally horizontally disposed stack.

3. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, a plurality of successively arranged article folding plates in the path of article movement for successively and longitudinally folding portions of said article, and means for maintaining said folded portions in separated relation.

4. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, a plurality of successively arranged article folding plates in the path of article movement for successively and longitudinally folding portions of said article, and means for maintaining said folded portions in separated relation, said means also being arranged to hold the article on said conveyor.

5. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, a plurality of successively arranged article folding plates in the path of article movement for successively and longitudinally folding portions of said article, means for maintaining said folded portions in separated relation, and means for cross folding the longitudinally folded article.

6. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, means for folding said article in-a plurality of layers by movement of said article, and means generally parallel with said conveyor for maintaining said layers in separate position during folding operation.

7. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, means for folding said article in three layers by movement of said article, and means generally parallel with said conveyor for providing smooth surface areas along which two of said layers move during the foldingof said article.

8. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, means for folding said article in a. plurality of layers by movement of said article, and a plurality of riding plates positioned over said conveyor for separating said layers during the folding operation. K

9. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, means for folding said article in a plurality of layers by movement of said article, and a plurality of flexible riding plates positioned ,over said conveyor and adapted to press said article against said conveyor by their own weight, said plates having upturned forward ends in order that the article may readily pass thereunder.

l0. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, means for folding said article longitudi'nally in a plurality of layers by movement of said article, and riding plates for maintaining said layers in separated relation during the folding operation and of a width equal to the width of the desired fold.

1l. Foldingapparatus, comprising an article conveyor, a pair of article folding plates successively disposed in the path of an article on said conveyor, and a pair of riding plates successively positioned above said conveyor for co- Cil operation with said folding plates in folding said article, there being one riding plate associated with each folding plate, said riding plates being of such width and so positioned that the desired folds are accurately imparted to said article.

12. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, means for folding said article in three layers by movement of said article, a pair of overlapping riding plates positioned over said conveyor and each having an upturned forward end for the reception of a layer of said article.

13. Folding apparatus, comprising conveyor means for conveying an article from the feeding end of said apparatus to the delivery end thereof, means for cross-folding an article during such conveyance thereof, article-actuated means for controlling the operation of said cross-folding means, and means having a control member at the feeding end of said apparatus for adjusting the position of said article-actuated means, whereby articles of varying size may be centrally cross-folded.

14. In folding apparatus, an article conveyor, an article cross-folding blade, a switch positioned to be actuated by one of the end edges of an article on said conveyor, a solenoid adapted to be energized by said switch, driving means, means for operating saidl folding blade, clutch means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said driving means and said folding-blade operating means, and a latch operated by said solenoid for controlling said clutch means.

15. In folding apparatus having an article conveyor and an article cross-folding blade, a switch positioned to be actuated by one of the end edges of an article on said conveyor, a solenoid adapted to be energized by said switch, a shaft, a lever rigidly mounted on said shaft and operatively connected with said folding blade, a driven member on said shaft, clutch means for connecting ,said lever with said driven member, and a latch 17. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, a article cross-folding blade, a stacker, a switch adapted to be actuated by one of the end edges of an article on said conveyor, and operating means for said folding blade and said stacker controlled by said switch to fold and then stack said article. f

18. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, means for longitudinally folding said article, means for cross-folding said longitudinally folded article, a switch having an operating arm located in the path of travel of said article for operation thereby, normally inoperative actuating means for said cross-folding means, and a solenoid energized by article operation of said switch arm forvrendering said actuating means operable to actuate said cross-folding means.

19. Folding apparatus, comprising an article conveyor, means cooperating with a side edge portion of said article for longitudinally folding the article by movement thereof, and means controlled by an end edge portion of said longitudinally folded article for effecting cross-folding thereof.

lHUGH W. GABBERT. 

